Messages from Mayor Annette Iafallo
STORM UPDATES: RESUMPTION OF ALTERNATE PARKING & REGULAR GARBAGE/RECYCLE PICKUP SCHEDULE
Thanks to great snow removal work completed over the past several days, the city of Lackawanna will resume the following activities:
* ALTERNATE PARKING
Resumes TODAY, Sunday, January 21st at 4:00 p.m. Make sure your vehicle is parked on the correct side of the road to avoid being ticketed.
* GARBAGE / RECYCLE REGULAR PICKUP SCHEDULE
Resumes on Monday, January 22nd. DPW crews will pick up ALL garbage and recycle items placed at the curb.
Be sure to secure any extra items that don’t fit in your tote(s) in:
– heavy duty plastic bags (ANY color) for garbage or,
– clear heavy duty plastic bags, labeled boxes or bins for recycling.
PLEASE do not put any loose items in totes or at the curb.
Our thanks to everyone for their patience during this difficult and dangerous winter storm.
Please help share this message with others. A community update call with this information will also be sent.
A Message from Mayor Annette Iafallo – Lackawanna Trick-or-Treat Night Tuesday, October 31st 5:30-8:00PM
Lackawanna’s Halloween ‘trick-or-treat’ night will be held on Tuesday, October 31 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
As always, those planning to go ‘trick-or-treating’ are asked to follow a few safety and good neighbor practices:
• travel safely with family or friend groups in known neighborhood areas and,
• please be respectful of any neighbors who choose NOT to participate in Halloween – the most common sign is when their house lights are turned off.
Also, please be extra careful on Abbott Road from Ridge Road south to Willet, as there are road construction projects still ongoing AND near the Senior Center on Martin Road as Halloween night coincides with early voting for the November election.
I wish everyone who decides to venture out a safe, fun and enjoyable Halloween!
Lackawanna Recreation Department – NY
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR ANNETTE IAFALLO – NEW DEVELOPMENT APPROVED FOR ABANDONED GAS STATION AT RIDGE & ABBOTT
I have great news to share! By mid-year 2024, the abandoned gas station at Ridge Road & Abbott Road – which has been a community eyesore for over a decade – will finally be redeveloped!
Last evening the Lackawanna Zoning and Planning Boards approved a site plan for construction of a ~ 2,100 sq. ft. full-service Taco Bell restaurant with dine-in and drive-through accommodations.
The Taco Bell project will encompass three lots … the former gas station parcel plus two others immediately west at 1271-1265 Ridge Road, which have been home to Dr. Howard Penn’s podiatry office and a parking lot for that business. Dr. Penn is moving his practice to 725 Orchard Park Road in West Seneca, just a short 1.5 mile drive east of the current location.
Project developer Quick Service RealCo, LLC and their partner Marathon Engineering approached the city this past April about their proposed site plan and continued to work through our Code Enforcement team to refine the plan in advance of yesterday’s board meetings.
By year-end, Quick Service plans to close on the land sale transactions with current owners (these are not city-owned properties) and finalize all necessary permits/other approvals with the goal of starting construction in early spring of 2024.
Redevelopment of this site is a long-time coming, dating back to my days as City Council Member – Second Ward when Sen. Chuck Schumer held a press conference at the Ridge/Abbott site in 2018 to encourage owners of zombie gas station sites across New York State to come up with redevelopment plans for the benefit of the communities in which these sites are located.
While this process took a very long time for Lackawanna, it looks like brighter days and a productive re-use are finally ahead for this prime business corner.
The selection of the 1361 Abbott Road site by Quick Service / Taco Bell adds to the over $130 million in new development projects completed or underway in Lackawanna since 2020 when the unified city tax went into effect.
This long-overdue change in the city’s tax policy IS accomplishing what it was intended to do … attract new development investments, revenues and jobs to Lackawanna – which was NOT happening under the former non-homestead tax rate of $42.10/thousand.
My goal upon becoming Mayor in 2020 was to re-establish Lackawanna as a city open for business. And I am proud to say that our administration IS moving Lackawanna development forward at a pace not seen in many decades. These efforts include our partnership with Erie County at Renaissance Commerce Park, redevelopment of prime city-owned parcels and helping to advance projects on privately owned land where possible.
Lackawanna is now firmly on the radar of developers of every type and level and even more projects are expected in the near future.
As the Taco Bello project moves forward we’ll share any appropriate updates provided to us by the developer team. Early design renderings and an aerial site view are posted below.
Annette
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR ANNETTE IAFALLO – THANKS TO ALL WHO MADE ‘A BITE OF LACKAWANNA’ A GREAT SUCCESS!
Yesterday was a wonderful day for the Lackawanna community, as thousands gathered on Ridge Road between South Park and Electric Avenues to enjoy the inaugural ‘A Bite of Lackawanna’ Outdoor Food & Music Festival.
This was the first city run festival since before the pandemic. My goal for reintroducing a festival was to create a new event which not only brought the community together, but also showcased and directly benefited the many wonderful restaurants that have loyally served the Lackawanna community for years.
I am thrilled to say that our first ‘A Bite of Lackawanna’ was a great success! Each participating restaurant and artisan craft/beverage/musical/community vendor put on a wonderful display for festival goers – many of whom came from other communities to see what Lackawanna has to offer. And they were not disappointed.
KUDOS TO LACKAWANNA’S RESTAURANT COMMUNITY FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO BEST – PROVIDING DELICIOUS FOOD AND A GREAT GUEST EXPERIENCE!!
• 97 Rock/Cumulus Radio personality and Lackawanna resident Dave “DJ” Jickster.
SPECIAL THANKS to every member of the Lackawanna DPW, Fire and Police Departments for your ‘above and beyond’ efforts to provide a welcoming, safe and clean/comfortable environment for our guests. You did an outstanding job – while simultaneously handling your primary duties throughout the city.
Also to OLV and Catholic Charities of Buffalo for graciously allowing us to use their nearby parking facilities during the event.
And last but certainly not least, my thanks to the thousands of people who came out to support Lackawanna’s restaurant community!
We plan to build on this year’s experiences and feedback to make ‘A Bite of Lackawanna’ Outdoor Food & Music Festival even better for many years to come.
If you AREN’T receiving the automated Code Red calls from the Mayor and want to in the future:
• Scroll to QUICK LINKS at the bottom of this homepage and click CODE RED on the right
• This opens the Department of Public Safety page. Click the CODE RED – GET IT NOW icon in the middle of the page
• Then click ‘Continue to enroll as a guest’ and ‘Continue’ to enter your phone information
If you don’t have access to the internet, please contact the Public Information Office at 827-6475 for assistance.
Immediate Opening
Department of Development, Marketing & Public Information
Community Interest
Development
LACKAWANNA SELECTS NORTH FISHER PROPERTIES FOR 2019 ABBOTT ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The City of Lackawanna today announced the selection of North Fisher Properties, LLC as designated developer for a 2.13 development parcel located at 2019 Abbott Road in the city’s Fourth Ward.
North Fisher Properties was selected from the city’s call for bids for the 2019 Abbott Road parcel which began January 6th of this year and closed on February 3rd. Two other bids were received.
At their Monday, March 27th business meeting, the Lackawanna City Council unanimously approved Mayor Annette Iafallo’s recommendation to select North Fisher Properties based on the company’s high bid of $33K and site proposal for the neighborhood commercially zoned parcel.
“We’re excited to announce the selection of North Fisher Properties as the latest developer committed to continuing the unprecedented economic development momentum occurring in Lackawanna since 2020,” said Mayor Iafallo. “This newest project will be an ideal and modern complement to an existing mixed residential/commercial neighborhood along the bustling Abbott Road corridor.”
North Fisher Properties is proposing a two-phased project at the 2019 Abbott Road site consisting initially of two warehouse/storage facilities, followed by up to two additional multi-family units.
“As a young emerging company, we are eager to continue being a part of the recent development successes occurring in our hometown of Lackawanna,” said North Fisher Properties Managing Member Jason Szpara. “ We are confident that this project at 2019 Abbott Road will be an asset to Lackawanna for many years to come and a great addition to our emerging development portfolio.”
The 2019 Abbott Road project will be North Fisher Properties second Lackawanna project. Their first was completed on 4 ½ South Fisher Drive, just a short distance east of the Abbott Road parcel. That project consisted of 2 warehouses totaling a combined 13,000 square feet on a 3- acre vacant parcel the company has owned since 2013. The South Fisher facilities are fully leased by several local small businesses who use the space for storing supplies and other operating equipment, which also include a private indoor baseball training facility for local youth sports.
Negotiation of a land sale contract between the City of Lackawanna and North Fisher Properties is in process, and the company’s proposal will require approvals from the Lackawanna Zoning and Planning Boards in the coming months. The city has stipulated that construction on the 2019 Abbott Road parcel begin within 12 months of the land sale contract being finalized.
LACKAWANNA TO PARTNER WITH DOUGLAS DEVELOPMENT FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT AT 539 RIDGE ROAD
Today at a noon-time press conference, city of Lackawanna Mayor Annette Iafallo and Douglas Jemal, President and Founder of Douglas Development, jointly announced that Douglas has been named as Lackawanna’s designated developer for a $35 million mixed-use project planned for 539 Ridge Road in the city’s Second Ward, which will feature 160 market rate apartments averaging 850 sq. feet, 10,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space and 30,000 sq. ft of underground parking.
Lackawanna issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the 539 Ridge Road site on January, 21, 2022 with a proposal submission deadline of March 15th of this year. Douglas was chosen for the project based on the quality of their RFP response.
The Lackawanna City Council approved the land sale and transfer to Douglas for $1 by a 5-0 vote at their Tuesday, September 20, 2022 business meeting. The $1 land sale price was recommended by Mayor Iafallo given Douglas’s stated intent to develop the 539 Ridge Road project without tax abatement incentives and pay full city taxes upon project completion.
‘We’re honored to partner with the elite development team at Douglas Development as we continue to move forward with my administration’s efforts to revitalize Lackawanna from both an economic and community development perspective,” said Mayor Annette Iafallo. “Doug Jemal and his team have been making a transformational impact in the city of Buffalo over many years through successful completion of several multi-million projects. Given our proximity and similarity to Buffalo, my team has worked hard to bring the Douglas team to Lackawanna and today, I’m proud to say we’ve succeeded. This is another great milestone in restoring Lackawanna to prominence”
“My team and I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside with the wonderful city of Lackawanna. We think that Douglas Development can help play a role in catapulting Lackawanna back to what it once was,” said Douglas Jemal, President and Founder of Douglas Development. “With such rich history, simply minutes from downtown Buffalo, and a tangible eagerness within the community to get the ball moving, we felt like this was a perfect location for our next dynamic project.”
The proposed $35 million mixed-use project by Douglas Development will mark the first of its kind in Lackawanna’s in over a generation and serve as the anchor for the Iafallo administration’s multi-million revitalization plan for the Ridge Road – Center Street corridor, which will include:– And construction of three affordable single family residential homes by Habitat for Humanity Buffalo in partnership with the Lackawanna Housing Development Corporation with funding from the city’s community development block grant dollars administered through Erie County.
Lackawanna’s project partnership with Douglas Development continues the city’s success at attracting new development projects since Mayor Iafallo took office in 2020 and unified/lowered the city of Lackawanna’s tax rate as part of an overall strategy for rebuilding the city’s economy, which had eroded since the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation closed its local steelmaking operation in the early 1980’s.
– And manufacturing / warehouse projects for Flexlume Sign Company and Premium Coffee/Queen City Foods on city-owned parcels just east of the commerce park off NYS Route 5.
The next step in the process is for Douglas Development to present their project plans for 539 Ridge Road to the Lackawanna Zoning and Planning Boards before year end 2022. The project is expected to take up to 24 months to complete.
Important Reminders
Civil Service
2024 Civil Service Commission Meeting Schedule:
January 26, 2024
February 23, 2024
March 15, 2024
April 12, 2024 @9:30am**
April 26, 2024
May 31, 2024*
June 28, 2024
July 26, 2024
August 23, 2024
September 27, 2024
October 25, 2024
November 22, 2024
December 20, 2024
*All Meetings will be held the third Friday of the month at 9:15 AM in the City Council
Chambers unless otherwise noted.
** notes a special scheduled meeting.
City Clerk – Press Releases
Attention Business Owners
This is a reminder that ALL businesses operating in the City of Lackawanna are required, as per Chapter 88-10 of the Municipal Code of the City of Lackawanna, to register their business with the City Clerk’s Office. Furthermore, all previously registered businesses are required to renew their business registration every three (3) years.
The City Clerk’s Office recently sent out letters to all businesses regarding this requirement to register and/or renew. This process must be completed on or before December 16, 2019 to avoid enforcement action.
If a business did not receive a letter for whatever reason, they are not exempt and it is the business owner’s responsibility to comply with the law. This law applies to each and every business within the City, even if the business has been here awhile – there is no such provision for being “grandfathered” in.
Business registration forms are available on the City website at www.lackawannany.gov and are also available in the Clerk’s Office, City Hall, Room 215, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Any questions may be directed to the City Clerk’s Office at 827-6452.
Bids / RFP
VETERANS SERVICES
WNYHeroes Inc., is an organization Mr. Kreiger, an Army Veteran who served in the Iraq War, established in 2007.
WNYHeroes, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide Veterans, members of the armed services, and the widows and children of deceased Veterans with access to essential services, financial assistance and resources that help support their lives and sustain their dignity.
It should also be known that WNYHeroes, Inc. takes great pride in promising that 100% of ALL funds raised remain in WNY to support our local Veterans and their families.
For additional information you may call 630-5020 or visit www.WNYHeroes.Org.
SOCIAL SECURITY UPDATES
Below you will find the current edition of the Social Security newsletter. Within you will find Social Security’s latest information, current news items, and FAQs. Please feel free to share it with clients, colleagues and friends.
Social Security Star – July 2023
La Estrella de Seguro Social – Julio 2023
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| Social Security Administration Expands Outreach and Access for Supplemental Security Income
Campaign Also Targets Underserved Communities Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency has expanded its outreach to people in critical need of financial help who may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI provides monthly payments to adults age 65 and older or to other adults – and children – with a disability or blindness who have limited income and financial resources. SSI helps pay for basic needs like rent, food, clothing, and medicine. “Helping eligible people access critical benefits, including SSI, is part of Social Security’s core mission,” said Acting Commissioner Kijakazi. “Underserved communities face additional challenges, like unreliable or no access to the internet and computers, that widen the divide. Social Security’s campaign strives to reach people in their communities to tell them about the eligibility criteria for SSI, and how to contact us online at www.ssa.gov/ssi or by phone for more information or an appointment to apply.” The campaign supports President Biden’s Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. Social Security used data to identify and reach underserved communities in rural and urban areas across the country where it noted the greatest decline in SSI applications since the pandemic, and where the majority of people living in those zip codes are people of color and/or people living at or below the 150 percent Federal poverty threshold. Social Security’s campaign uses a variety of ways to reach people, including radio and television public service announcements (PSA), radio ads, mailers, bus shelter and other large signs, flyers distributed to local stores, and printed publications in several language options. Watch the 60-second television PSA: https://www.youtube.com/ Social Security also is reaching more people online through social media, digital, YouTube ads, and search engine marketing. Individuals who receive SSI may qualify for other financial help, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, and discounted internet service through the Federal Trade Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program. Individuals who receive Social Security benefits may also be eligible for SSI. People with limited income and financial resources, and with access to the internet, should visit www.ssa.gov/ssi to learn more about SSI eligibility and request an appointment to apply for benefits. People without access to the internet can call Social Security’s National 800 Number at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative. In addition to this campaign, Social Security recently proposed simplifications to the SSI program when people are receiving food assistance. The proposed changes will simplify the rules, making it easier to understand and comply with program requirements. This will save time for the public and Social Security and improve the equitable treatment of food assistance within the SSI program. Social Security accepted comments about the proposed rule through April 17, 2023. # # # To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress. |
Social Security Announces 8.7 Percent Benefit Increase for 2023
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.
The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits). The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said.
To view a COLA message from Acting Commissioner Kijakazi, please visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgm5q4YT1AM.
Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $160,200 from $147,000.
Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount. The fastest way to find out their new benefit amount is to access their personal my Social Security account to view the COLA notice online. It’s secure, easy, and people find out before the mail arrives. People can also opt to receive a text or email alert when there is a new message from Social Security–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them, rather than receiving a letter in the mail. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Information about Medicare changes for 2023 is available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new higher 2023 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola.
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NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: Attached is a fact sheet showing the effect of the various automatic adjustments.
To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.
Greetings!
Social Security recently released a new online Social Security number (SSN) card application that allows people to start their application for an original or replacement SSN card online. This new application saves people time because they don’t have to complete the paper SSN card application. Once they’ve submitted their online application, they have 45 days to bring required documentation to their local SSA office to complete their application.
The link to the new application is found here: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/
Feel free to share this information and let us know if you would like a pack of business cards and/or a poster with QR codes that link to the online application. The QR codes in the image below work- you can try it out!
988 NATIONAL SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE
On Saturday, July 16, 2022, a new 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline was implemented across the United States. This is a FREE service available to everyone.
Anyone who is experiencing mental health distress – including thoughts of suicide, a substance-use crisis or emotional distress – can connect with a trained crisis counselor simply by calling or texting 988. Interpretation services are available in over 150 languages.*
Quick Links
